‘The Stanford Prison Experiment’
Based on the real research of psychologist Dr. Philip Zimbardo, this historical drama depicts Zimbardo’s famous work as he selects 24 male students to take on randomly assigned roles as prisoners and guards in a mock prison located in the Stanford psychology building’s basement. Featuring a strong ensemble cast that includes Billy Crudup alongside up-and-coming names like Michael Angarano, Ezra Miller, and more, the film features performances that really make it feel like the real deal. The results of Zimbardo’s experiment – which saw the guards take advantage of their power and abuse the prisoners – remain eerily relevant today. This absorbing, unsettling flick is both harrowing and thought-provoking.